Automatic Electric Monophone telephone AE 1 Mahogany

[John S]

Hello-

I came across this Automatic Electric Monophone. Its hard to tell but its Mahogany in color.  It needs real good cleaning to bring it back to life.  I just can't find to much information on it.  I have seen them with the low cradle but not a high cradle.  It looks like it was gold plated. You can see how worn out it is.  Its a real cool phone.  I have had it for a while. Its has been tucked away for a year.  Here are a few pictures.

John

[HarrySmith]

You are right, that will be awesome once it is restored. It is always cool to "refind" a gem you did not even know you had! Please take lots of pictures to document the restoration and share with us.

[WEBellSystemChristian]

It looks like you have a very rare phone there. A real Mahogany 1A should be worth around $1000-2000. Great personal find!!!

[TelePlay]

This one sold for $2,250 a bit more than two years ago. It did not have the tall cradle.

They do look very nice when all spiffed up. It was the subject phone for Auction Contest #117

[John S]

Thanks for all the post.  I will try to get more pictures on this week.  Automatic Electric are not expertise.  I am more of a Western Electric guy.  I think once its polished the true Mahagony will shine through. 

John

[Jack Ryan]

It is an AE 1, not a 1-A (or possibly an AE 11 - I can't tell without circuit information).

As far as I know, the AE 1 was only available in two colours; black and mahogany. Other colours did not appear on the scene until the AE 1-A and were made from Durez (not Bakelite). The mahogany version was not available until late in the life of the AE 1 - about 1927-1928 - again, as far as I know.

Jack

[John S]

Thank you Jack,

I am gathering all the information people have given me.  All the information is appreciated.  I am learning a lot today. 

John

[WEBellSystemChristian]

Be VERY careful cleaning up the gold parts; I believe they were plated in real gold! I may be wrong, but don't use brasso or polishing compounds, just a light cleaning for those parts.

[Pourme]

Being new to the hobby, I too am learning a lot each day. What a great phone! Can't wait to see the restoration!...

[stub]

John S
           Great phone !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can you post a pic of the wiring in the base ?   stub

[Jack Ryan]

John S
           Great phone !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can you post a pic of the wiring in the base ?   stub

And a picture of the receiver with the cap removed (assuming it can be removed). If it's not too difficult, the transmitter element as well.

Thanks

[John S]

I will post them tomorrow.

John

[Jack Ryan]

By the way, there is a picture of a red AE 1 on the ATCA home page.

http://atcaonline.com/

Such a phone never existed.

Jack

[WEBellSystemChristian]

Is a Mahogany 1 rarer than a Mahogany 1A, or was black about as common as Mahogany then?

[Jack Ryan]

Is a Mahogany 1 rarer than a Mahogany 1A, or was black about as common as Mahogany then?

I would say that a mahogany AE 1 is rarer than a mahogany AE 1-A - by a fair margin.

I am assuming that a dial would surface mount on John's phone.

Jack